Automatic oiling device for gas-meter diaphragms.



J. R. DALY.

AUTOMATIC OILING DEVICE FOR GAS METER DIAPHEAGMS. APPLIOATION FILEDAUG,17, 1908.

939,675.. I Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. R. DALY. AUTOMATIC 01mm DEVICE FOR GAS METER DIAPHRAGMS.

APPLIOATION FILED AT TG. l7

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2v Fit- 4a our srarps PATENT ()FFICE.

JATJIES REGEAN DALY, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN EMORYCROSS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC OILING DE VICE FOR GAS-METER DIAPHRAGMS.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus REGEAN DALY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inAutomatic Oiling Devices for Gas- Meter Diaphragms, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to dry meters for measuring the flow ofilluminating gas or the like, and the particular type of dry meter towhich the invention is applied is that which has a measuring chamber towhich the gas is admitted at intervals and from which it is released atcorresponding intervals. This chamber is divided by means of a looseflexible member which will be hereinafter termed a diaphragm, into twocontracting and expanding chambers for the gas. The pulsations of thediaphragm as the gas is admitted to and re leased from the expandingchambers alternately are communicated to suitable registering means. Inthis way, the volume of the gas going through the meter is measured. Theoperation of such meters is so well known that it need not be describedin further detail. The diaphragms have been made of various materialsbut the one now most generally used is leather. To secure accuratemeasurement, it is necessary that the diaphragm be not only imperviousto the gas to be measured, but that its flexibility be constant.

It is an essential condition to the use of gas meters that they are inoperation for long periods without attention. The diaphragms are insidethe measuring chambers and inaccessible. The nature of the gas used issuch that it has a strong affinity for oil and in a short time itextracts the oil from the leather forming the diaphragm. The latterbecomes hard, dry and porous and cracks develop. This condition of thediaphragm ofiers serious obstacles to the operation of the meter. Thegas which passes through the pores and cracks in the leather is notmeasured and when the diaphragm becomes stiff and crisp it not onlyoffers increased resistance to the passage of the gas, but does notinflate in the same form as when soft and errors of measurement occur onthis account.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App1ication filed August 17, 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1999.

Serial No. 448,972.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating deviceby means of which the diaphragm may be kept soft and pliable for a longperiod, during which the meter receives, no attention. the pliability ofthe diaphragm is rendered constant, its pores are filled, cracking isprevented and the greatest accuracy of measurement is secured; also, theresistance to the passage of gas is maintained at the minimum.

In the embodiment of my invention to be described herein, the meter isprovided with a receptacle for lubricant of a size to hold sufficientoil for several months or even a year, and suitable means, shown in thisinstance in the form of a wick, is provided to conduct the oil from thereservoir to the diaphragm. The size of the wick may be determined bythe rate at which the oil is extracted or dried or otherwise renderedunavailable for the purposes of lubrication for the passage of oil maybe regulated and the escape of gas prevented by compressing the wick apredetermined amount by means of a device hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top view of a meter to which my invention has beenapplied. In this view, the casing is broken away to show the oilingdevice in plan view. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the meter. Fig.3 is a fragmentary top plan showing the position of the oil supplyopening. Fig. 4 is a section through the oil supply opening and valve.Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken at right angles to the section ofFig. 2.

The meter consists of a box or casing, (4, having an inlet, 6, for gasand an outlet 0 for the same. The upper portion, 7, of the casing, a,constitutes the index chamber and is divided from the measuring chamber3 of the meter by means of a horizontal partition 2. The measuringchambers 3 of the meter contain the expanding chambers a the walls ofwhich in this instance consist each of a stationary disk 5 and a movingdisk 6, which are connected by means of a loose, flexible, circulardiaphragm (Z. Each measuring chamber is thus divided into twocontracting and expanding chambers for the gas. These chambers contractand expand alternately as the gas is admitted to and released from eachsuch expanding and contracting cham- In this way, S

her in turn. The entrance and exit of the gas to the chambers 3 and 4 iscontrolled by suitable valves not shown. These valves are housed in theValve box Z and are actuated by the moving disks, the motion of which iscommunicated to the valves through suitable The upright tube or pipe jserves as a holder for a wick 70 which is passed through the pipe and isbrought in contact with the dia phragm below the partition 2. Theopposite end of the wick which projects from the upper extremity of theholder j is turned over, brought down to the upper side of the partition2 where it is passed through a fastener 'u in the form of a strap whichis secured to the partition at its extremities and at its middle pointand between these points, spaced from the partition by a slightinterval. he strap thus applied forms a fastener for the two wicks, onefor each diaphragm. The tube or pipe j is provided intermediate itslength with a boss 8 which is bored and tapped to receive a thumb screw9 placed at right angles to the aperture of the tube By tightening thescrew 9, the wick can be compressed at the will of the operator for apurpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Though the above description of the method of conducting oil from thereservoir to the diaphragm relates to the preferred form of myinvention, the details described are not considered essential to myinvention. I11 the operation of the device, a wick is passed througheach holder with its lower extremity spread out in the form of a brush,in contact with the corresponding diaphragm (Z. The other end of thewick is flattened and passed through the fastener a) at the bottom ofthe chamber. Lubricating oil suflicient for a long period, as severalmonths is placed in the index chamber 7', covering the bottom of thechamber and the flattened extremity of the wick. It is ap parent thatthe oil will be taken up by the wick by capillary attraction and carriedto the top of the tube From this point the oil will descend bycapillarity and gravity to the diaphragm (Z. The pressure of the gas isnormally greater than the pressure of the outside air and the flow ofthe oil by capillarity and gravity takes place against this pressure.The leather will take up the lubricating oil which will be distributedover the diaphragm, due to capillary action or absorption of theflexible material of which the diaphragm is composed. The amount of oilto be supplied is preferably equal to the amount taken from the diaphragm by the gas passing through the meter. This feed is regulated byturning the screw 9 to put the necessary amount of pressure on the wick.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLette's Patent is: I

1. In a gas meter, a measuring chamber, a flexible diaphragm dividingthe measuring chamber into two chambers for the gas so that both sidesof the diaphragm are ex posed to the gas, a container for oil accessible from without to receive oil without opening the measuring chamber,the measuring chamber and the oil container being connected by apassage, and. a wick leading from the container through .the passage tothe diaphragm, the whole being so constructed that access of the gas tothe oil in the container is prevented.

2. In a gas meter, a measuring chamber, a flexible diaphragm dividingthe measuring chamber into two chambers for the gas so that both sidesof the diaphragm are exposed to the gas, a container for oil accessiblefrom without to receive oil without opening the measuring chamber, themeasuring chamber and the oil container being connected by a passage,and a wick leading from the container through the passage to thediaphragm, the whole being so constructed that access of the gas to theoil in the container is prevented, and means for compressing the wick apredetermined amount to regulate the supply of oil.

3. In a gas meter, a measuring chamber, a flexible diaphragm .dividingthe measuring chamber into two chambers for the gas so that both sidesof the diaphragm are exposed to the gas, a container for oil accessiblefrom without to receive oil without opening the measuring chamber, andmeans whereby oil is conducted from the container to the diaphragm, thewhole being so constructed that access of the gas to the oil in thecontainer is prevented.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES REGEAN DALY.

C. IVILsoN.

